Who is Zach Pamaylaon? He’s the first guy from Hawaii to play pro hockey, and he’s making quite a name for himself. Just recently, he was in a tough game at Danbury Arena, going toe-to-toe with a much bigger opponent.
In his third season with the Danbury Hat Tricks, Zach, who’s 28 and stands at 5’9″, isn’t backing down. He got into a fight with a 6’4″ player from the Binghamton Black Bears. Even though he got a penalty for starting it, he landed some solid punches and didn’t go down first, which got the crowd roaring.
He’s from Aiea, and he’s got this drive to represent Hawaii well. Zach grew up in a place with just one ice rink, but that didn’t stop him. He learned the game and caught the eye of scouts. His parents always encouraged him to make Hawaii proud.
His dad got into hockey when Zach was a kid, and he was on the ice before he could even walk. It’s wild to think that in Hawaii, there were only about 279 registered players in 2023. Zach had to hustle to get noticed, and he did just that when a coach from New Jersey spotted him during a pickup game.
After high school, he joined a junior hockey team in Philadelphia, where he had to learn the game on the fly. He worked hard and eventually made it to Bryn Athyn College, becoming the first Hawaiian to commit to an NCAA hockey program.
Things got tough when COVID hit, and his college program got cut. But he didn’t let that stop him. He played on a club team and racked up impressive stats. Eventually, he got offers from several teams, but he chose Danbury because he loved the fans’ energy.
Now, he’s a fan favorite, known as the “Flyin’ Hawaiian.” His unique style and personality have made him a hit, and he’s even coaching youth hockey. Zach’s journey is inspiring, showing that with hard work and passion, you can break barriers.